Companies in the offshore wind service sector should cooperate across different countries, according to the European Clusters for Offshore Wind Servicing (Ecowinds) research project.
The project, which has run for three years, concluded that there should be a knowledge sharing initiative across region, as well as an international split of responsibilities to speed up innovation in the sector.
The proposals were part of a joint action plan, listing eight priority areas. The recommendations also included the development of a value proposition for offshore wind service as an industry in itself
Ecowinds is an EU-funded project that has been jointly initiated by the offshore wind clusters of south Denmark, east England, north-west Germany and Møre in Norway.
Wind Energy Agency (WAB) interim head Urs Wahl said: “As the offshore wind service business is a European business, research cooperation should also be intensified at a European level.”
WAB team member Susanne Findeisen said: “Many industry players are too reluctant to cooperate with others in the sector.”
WAB is the wind energy industry’s network coordinator in Germany’s northwest region.
Image: reNEWS
Services need to cross borders
Ecowinds research project recommends cooperation across countries
By EBS